Psalms 69:14
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Mire and deep waters functioned as common biblical metaphors for mortal danger and overwhelming trouble (Psalm 40:2, 69:2, Lamentations 3:54). Ancient Israel's geography included treacherous wadis (dry riverbeds) that could flash flood suddenly, and marshes near water sources where one could become fatally stuck.
The plea for deliverance from enemies echoes throughout Davidic psalms, reflecting his historical experience fleeing Saul, battling hostile nations, and facing Absalom's rebellion.
In Christian interpretation, this became paradigmatic of Christ's passion. He sank into death's waters, descended into the mire of sin and judgment (though personally sinless, bearing sin's penalty), and emerged victorious.
Questions for Reflection
- What "mire" in your life feels like it's pulling you under, and how do you cry out to God from that place?
- How does recognizing that enemies may truly hate us (not merely misunderstand us) affect our prayers and expectations?
- In what ways does Christ's descent into death's waters and emergence in resurrection provide hope for our present drowning experiences?
Analysis & Commentary
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. David returns to the drowning imagery from verse 2, intensifying the plea with "mire" (טִיט/tit)—thick mud or clay that entraps and suffocates. "Let me not sink" (אַל־אֶטְבָּעָה/al-etba'ah) uses the verb for sinking beneath water's surface, drowning. The double petition—"deliver me" and "let me be delivered"—emphasizes urgency and desperation.
"From them that hate me" (מִשֹּׂנְאַי/misonai) identifies enemies not as mere opponents but as those who bear active hatred. "Deep waters" (מִמַּעֲמַקֵּי מָיִם/mi-ma'amaqqei mayim) continues the drowning metaphor—not shallow, manageable troubles but overwhelming, life-threatening floods beyond human ability to navigate.
The language anticipates Jonah (Jonah 2:3-5) and prefigures Christ's descent into death. Jesus spoke of His coming death as a "baptism" He must undergo (Luke 12:50), an overwhelming flood.